Lighter



May 27, 1941. G. P. scHMrr'l- ETAL LIGHTER v Filed' oct. 26, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 MNK ATTORNEY.

Patented May 27, 1941 LIGHTER George Philip Schmitt, New York, N. Y., and Donald A. Richards, Fairfield County, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Cardinal Products, Inc., a corporation of New York Application Gictcber 26, 1937, Seriall No. 170,998

(Cl. {E7-7) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to lightersY particularly of the catalytic type for example, wherein `ignition' of a cigarette and the like may be accomplished by applying the tip thereof toor adjacent a catalyst which becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presenceY of atmospheric air, when the cigarette is drawn upon.

In order that the lighter of the character contemplated by the invention may efficiently function, it is essential that a proper mixture of the fuel vapor and air be obtained, that a free and uninterrupted passageY be provided from the air inlet to the catalyst, and that evaporation of the fuel be prevented during inactive periods of the lighter.

It is customary to employ an absorbable material to hold the fuel. This material may have the tendency to contact with or pack against the walls of the container, thereby blocking o r interrupting free passage for the air to be sucked in and mixed with the fuel upon drawing of the cigarette forignition purposes.

According to the invention. a catalytic lighter in which a catalyst becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presence of atmospheric air and in which absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizabl'e fuel is placed in a compartment of a casing, is characterized in that the top wall of the casing is provided with openings adjacent` each other, one of which forms an air inlet, and the other of which forms an entrance of a compartment for a catalyst unit, said compartment having side and bottom walls projecting into saidcasinggand said bottom wall providing a sealing surface for the catalyst unit when the latter is in its inoperative position. A portion of the side wall of the compartment separates theair inlet from said compartment. f

Preferablythe inner faces of the walls. ofthe compartment for the absorbent material' are formed (and if desired the bottom wall of the catalyst compartment may be formed) with ribs which form channels' providing a free and uninterrupted passage Yfrom the air inlet at the top of the compartment for the absorbent material to an inlet leading into the lower part of the compartment for the catalyst'unit.

By these means the absorbent material is localized, and the vaporizable fuel brought under control so that the catalyst unit can be more readily safeguardedV against 'attack bythe fuel when the lighter is not in operation.v

It is an object of the present invention to provide effective and efficient means vfor producing. a positive path or circuit for the. fuel mixture from the air inlet to the catalyst unit.

A further object of the. invention is toprovide a container or casing for a catalytic lighter Aprefera-bly made ofplastic or moldable material and in which separate but communicating compartments or chambers are provided for holding the catalyst unit and the vaporizable liquid carrying absorbent material.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide improved lsealing means for the air admission vent and catalyst unit made operable by the closing of the'cover of the case.

-A still further object of the invention isv to provide improved catalyst holding and fuel admission means for the catalyst unit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawings which illustrate a certain formof embodiment thereof. This form is shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has .been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of whichV the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a front elevational viewjof a lighter incorporating the features of this invention in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the lighter in open or operative position.

Fig. 3 is a top pla-n view of Fig. 2, with the cover removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the mechanism in closedv or inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a view looking into the housing from the bottom (the bottom of the housing and the absorbent material being removed).

Fig. 6 is a top View of the bottom of the lighter.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional View of the catalyst unit in inoperative position.

The drawings, which illustrate an example realizing the invention, discloses a housing 25, a bottom 26, and a hinged cover 2l, all of which members are preferably made of molclable or plastic composition. The bottom E is hermetically secured to housing 25 by any suitable means, as for exampleV cement. At the top of housing is an air inlet 39 communicating with the inside of the housing. Y

The casing which includes the housing 25 and bottom 26, may be considered as being divided into three sections, namely, the chamber 28 holding the vaporizable liquid carrying absorbent material 29, the compartment 65 holding the catalyst unit (later described), and an air and a fuel vapor culvert or passageway 33 communieating with the air inlet 30, and the outlet 3l connecting chamber 28 with compartment E5. Except at the inlet 30 and outlet 3 I, the passageway 33 and fuel chamber 28 form a completely enclosed compartment separated fromthecatalyst compartment, by thewalls 51, `68, 69, the

walls 61, 59 may form a circumferential wall confining compartment 65. The passage 33 commences at air inlet 3i) and terminates at the outlet 3| substantially surrounding material 29 on three sides, namely, its two narrow sides 'and its bottom.

The passages or channels 33 are formed by and between the plurality ofY ribs 34 which are preferably integral extensions of the narrow walls and bottom 26 of the casing. These ribs 34 localize the material 29 providing the passageway for the air and fuel mixture from the air inlet to the catalyst. The arrowheads 32 (Fig. 2) indicate the travel of the mixture when suction is applied at the cigarette C. It is preferable to have the material 29 close up against the portion 35 of vertical wall 61, but spaced from the inlet 30 providing the chamber or pocket 66.

The cover 21 which is preferably made of the same material as the casing 25, is hingedly secured to the latter by means of pin 36. Tension spring 31 will force the cover open when the latch 38 is pressed in, thereby releasing the grip of the latch 38 at the hole 39 against the narrow neck portion 49 of pin 4I. The latch 38 is secured on the bottom 25 by means of the bentdown portion 38 tting into the groove 69 of the said bottom 26. This bottom when cemented or otherwise sealed into position within the shell 25 will securely grip the latch 38 at that point. To add to the spring effect of the latch 38, a leaf spring 33 may be soldered or otherwise secured to the latch.

The cover 21 has two recesses 42, 43, which contain resilient or cushion-cover sealing means 44, 45, respectively. When the cover is closed, cushion 44 seals the air vent, 30', while the cushion 45 seals the top of the catalyst unit, as shown in Fig. 4. These seals will prevent chemical action taking place within the lighter and evaporation of the fuel when the lighter is not in use.

The catalyst unit (see Fig. 7) comprises the shell 59 preferably provided with a flared top to facilitate guidance of the cigarette therewithin for ignition purposes. Shell has a tubular reduced portion producing a shoulder or flange 5l and a further tubular reduced portion 53 forming a flange or shoulder 52 and communicating with the previous-mentioned portion. Tubular portion 53r is flared at its bottom as indicated by the numeral 51. The catalyst pill P made of suitable catalytic material, is preferably secured in holder or shell 59 between upper and lower screens S, upper and lower, respectively. Y

The lower screen seats on the inturned ridge or ange 5i; and the screens S and catalytic material P are clamped together and wedged in the holder by means of the retainer R. The

shoulder 5I provides an abutment for one end 6I of a coil spring 56, the other end of spring 56 forceably bearing against the closing gasket 54 resting on the washer 55, the latter stopping in the open position against the flared portion 51 of the tube section 53. Thus the preferably rubber gasket 54 and washer 55 are continuously forced downward towards said flared portion 51.

It is preferable that the gasket 54 projects slightly beyond the washer 55, thereby to completely form la seal-tight joint with the flange or shoulder 62 in compartment 65 (which holds the catalyst unit), when the cover 21 is closed. The flared portion 51 of the catalyst holder presses against gasket 59 (preferably rubber) when the cover is closed, as shown in Fig. 4. Gasket 59 is supported by the extension wall 68,

-the -latterbeing spaced from the absorbent material 29 to provide the mixture chamber 10.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, when cover 21 is opened the catalyst holder 50 is urged upward slightly by the coil spring 56 causing separation of its flared bottom 51 from gasket 59. As cigarette C is drawn upon by the smoker, air is sucked in through inlet 30, which air mixes with the fuel vapor in chamber 66 and during its circuitous passage through the channels 33. The fuel mixture flows in the direction of arrows 32 through opening or outlet 3| and into the tubular portions of holder 50 for coaction with catalyst P, causing incandescence of the latter and ignition of the applied cigarette as the latter is being drawn upon or puffed.

After the cigarette has been lit, the cover is closed (Fig. 4) and sealing of the air inlet |30 and top and bottom openings of catalyst holder 50 is thus effected.

It is understood that although it is preferable that the casing be made of any suitable moldable or plastic material, it can be made of metal or any other suitable material.

rAlthough the drawings, and the above specication discloses the best mode in which We have contemplated embodying our invention, we desire in no way to be limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of our invention many changes in the forms and proportions may be made `as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A catalytic lighter in which a catalyst becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presence of atmospheric air comprising a catalyst unit, a casing having a compartment containing absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel and a compartment for said catalyst unit, said casing having a top wall provided with openings adjacent each other, one of which openings being an air inlet, the other of which openings being an entrance to said catalyst unit compartment through which said catalyst unit may be inserted therein, said latter compartment having side and bottom walls projecting into said casing, and said bottom wall providing a seat for said catalyst unit, inner faces of walls of said compartment containing absorbent material being formed with ribsY providing a passage between said air inlet and an inlet leading into said catalyst unit compartment.

A2. A catalytic lighter in which a catalyst becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presence or atmospheric air comprising a catalyst unit, a casing having a compartment containing absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel and a compartment for said catalyst unit, said casing having a top Wall provided with openings adjacent each other, one of which openings being an air inlet, the other of which openings being an entrance to said catalyst unit compartment through which said catalyst unit may be inserted therein, said latter compartment havingside and bottom Walls projecting into said casing, said bottom wall providing a seat for the catalyst unit, and spring-urged means for said catalyst unit whereby the latter may assume a position in which its lower inlet end is clear of the said bottom of its compartment, said casing having a cover which upon closing will press and hold the catalyst unit against the upper face of the said bottom of its compartment to prevent air and fuel from reaching the catalyst.

3. A catalytic lighter in which a catalyst becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presence of atmospheric air comprising a catalyst unit, a casing having a compartment containing absorbent material to be saturated With vaporizable fuel and a compartment for said catalyst unit, said casing having a top wall provided with openings adjacent each other,

one of which openings being an air inlet, the other of which openings being an entrance to said catalyst unit compartment through Which said catalyst unit may be inserted therein, said catalyst unit compartment having side and bottom Walls projecting into said casing, said bottom wall providing a seat for the catalyst unit, said casing having a cover, and resilient means operable by the closing of said cover to seal said air inlet and said catalyst unit.

4. A catalytic lighter in which a catalyst becomes incandescent by contact with a vaporizable fuel in the presence of atmospheric air comprising a catalyst unit, a casing having a compartment containing absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel and a compartment for said catalyst unit, said casing having a top Wall provided With openings adjacent each other, one of which openings being an air inlet, the other of which openings being an entrance to said catalyst unit compartment through which said catalyst unit may be inserted therein, said catalyst unit compartment having side and bottom Walls projecting into said casing, and forming part of the boundary o'f said compartment containing absorbent material, said bottom Wall providing a seat for the catalyst unit.

GEORGE PI-HLIP SCHMITT. DONALD A. RICHARDS. 

